As the successor to the EOS Kiss X5, the EOS Kiss X6i (Photo 1) provides the comfortable operating experience of an entry-level model while delivering even better image quality, greater precision, and faster performance.

Excellent image fidelity, picture quality, and ISO range

• ~18.00-megapixel CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 5 imaging processor
• Full-time ISO range of 100 to 12800 (with an extended ISO speed of 25600)

Improved core camera functions

• All nine AF points are cross-type
• Maximum continuous shooting speed of approx. 5 fps

Advanced imaging and processing functions

• Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight Control modes
• Added Art Bold Effect and Water Painting Effect to the creative filters
• Multi-shot noise reduction
• EOS scene detection system

Improved AF performance with Live View shooting and movie shooting

• Hybrid CMOS AF system
• Continuous AF
• Movie Servo AF

More comfortable operation

• Vari-Angle LCD monitor touch panel for viewing flexibility and intuitive, convenient touch operation

The next sections provide a general overview of the EOS Kiss X6i, with a special focus on advances from the EOS Kiss X5.

1. APS-C sized, ~18.00-megapixel CMOS sensor

At the heart of the EOS Kiss X6i is a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor (Photo 2) with approximately 18.00 effective megapixels and an effective sensor size of approximately 22.3 x 14.9 mm.

2. DIGIC 5 provides high image quality and high-speed processing

The new DIGIC 5 imaging processor is essential for the camera's digital image processing functions and enables fast, low-noise image processing and a maximum continuous shooting speed of approximately 5 fps. The DIGIC 5 represents a huge jump in performance, as its processing speed is approximately six times faster than the DIGIC 4. The advanced version of the DIGIC 5, the DIGIC 5+, is used on our high-end EOS-1D X and EOS 5D Mark III models.

3. Wide ISO 100 to 12800 range creates more shooting opportunities

Thanks to the DIGIC 5's low-noise image processing, the X6i has a full-time 100 to 12800 ISO range, more than one f-stop wider than the X5.

4. Chromatic aberration correction

Lens optical correction on the previous model consisted of only peripheral illumination correction, but this model adds chromatic aberration correction as well.

1. Nine cross-type AF points

The EOS Kiss X6i is equipped with the same AF sensor as the EOS 60D where all nine AF points are cross-type (Photo 3). When using brighter lenses up to a maximum aperture of f/2.8, dual-cross focusing measurements are made using the f/2.8 light flux and the f/5.6 light flux with the center AF points.

Because of the combination of this AF sensor and the advanced AI Servo AF II algorithm, the camera is capable of precise, stable shooting of moving subjects.

2. Maximum continuous shooting speed of approximately 5 fps

Compared to the X5’s maximum continuous shooting speed of approximately 3.7 fps, the X6i reaches a speed of about 5 fps with both One-Shot AF and AI Servo AF. This performance rivals the 5.3 fps speed of the high-end EOS 60D.

It is now also possible to select continuous shooting and the 2-second self timer by changing the drive mode even in Basic Zone shooting modes.

1. Handheld Night Scene mode

This function can capture night scenes clearly and beautifully without a tripod by taking four consecutive shots at a shutter speed fast enough to avoid camera shake and then combining the four shots. This mode can be used with a flash for beautiful portraits and night scenes.

2. HDR Backlight Control mode

This function can capture photos with minimal blown highlights or black saturation even in backlit conditions by taking three consecutive shots — one underexposed, one at correct exposure, and one overexposed — and then combining the shots (Photo 4).

3. Creative filters

The X6i comes with two new creative filters: Art Bold Effect (Photo 5) and Water Painting Effect (Photo 6).

4. Multi-shot noise reduction

This new function reduces noise when taking shots at high ISO speeds by combining four consecutive shots into one image. Multi-shot noise reduction is better than the previous "strong" noise reduction setting and the resolution is not noticeably affected.

5. EOS Scene Detection system

The EOS Scene Detection system detects the type of scene about to be taken and adjusts the camera settings for the best exposure, white balance, etc. An icon indicating the detected scene is displayed on the LCD monitor during Scene Intelligent Auto Live View shooting and the Basic Zone mode movie shooting.

1. Hybrid CMOS AF system

The hybrid CMOS AF system uses the CMOS imaging sensor for contrast AF^*1 and phase-difference AF.^*2 Using these two types of AF detection together makes it possible to focus quickly and smoothly while displaying the Live View image. The user does not need to be aware of the hybrid CMOS AF system when shooting because the system operates automatically.

It should be noted that the hybrid CMOS AF system focuses only in the center area of the frame.

*1 This AF method locates the point of best focus by moving the lens to find the peak contrast.
*2 This AF method uses the same principle for autofocusing with viewfinder shooting. It locates the point of best focus by dividing the light passing through the lens into two images and measuring the image distance and overlap (the phase difference).

2. Continuous AF

Continuous AF is a function that keeps the subject in continual focus while the Live View image is displayed even when the shutter button is not pressed. The advantage of Continuous AF is a shorter lag time than previously because the camera can move directly from the focused state to the exposure at shutter press.

3. Subject tracking AF and FlexiZone - Multi AF

4. New lens enables faster, more comfortable AF operation

Using the newly developed EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens with the X6i enables even faster and smoother AF performance in the hybrid CMOS AF and Continuous AF modes.

5. Live View shooting metering modes

The EOS Kiss X6i lets the user select the metering mode during Live View shooting.

Evaluative metering divides the frame into 315 zones. Partial metering uses approximately 8.8 percent of the frame and Spot metering approximately 2.8 percent for exposure measurements. Center-weighted average metering is also available during Live View shooting.

1. Movie Servo AF

Movie Servo AF allows the user to record a movie while continually focusing on a moving subject. Servo AF works with all EF lenses. Hybrid CMOS AF also functions while recording movies with autofocus.

Note that Movie Servo AF works even more quietly and smoothly when the newly developed EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is attached to the camera.

2. Built-in stereo microphone

The built-in stereo microphone makes it easy to record highly realistic sounds. The camera includes an attenuator function that reduces clipping when loud sounds are input.

3. Exposure control and ISO speeds

Movies can be recorded with either Program AE, dedicated for movie shooting, or manual exposure. The ISO speed can be set up to an equivalent of ISO 12800 when manually exposing the movie.

4. Elimination of the 4 GB file size limit

On previous models, movie recording ended once the file size for one continuous shot reached 4 GB. This restriction has been removed, allowing continuous recordings as long as 29 minutes and 59 seconds regardless of the file size.

1. Vari-angle LCD monitor touch panel for intuitive, convenient touch operation

The LCD monitor includes a capacitive touch panel, which allows users to do most operations with their fingertips while viewing the monitor. Touch operations include menu operations, shooting function settings, and scrolling through photos and magnifying/reducing photos in playback mode (Figure 2).

During Live View shooting, it is possible to select where to focus and to automatically shoot after focusing by touching the screen.

2. Clear View LCD II monitor

The EOS Kiss X6i comes with a wide 3.0-type high-resolution LCD monitor with approximately 1.04 million dots. The monitor has a solid construction that eliminates the gap (air layer) between the surface layer and the liquid crystals to prevent reflections.

1. Power supply system

The EOS Kiss X6i uses the same LP-E8 battery pack as the X4 and X5, and can also use the BG-E8 battery grip.

2. GPS receiver support

When connected to the camera, the GP-E2 GPS receiver (Photo 7, sold separately) can append the location, orientation, and time of the shot to the image file as well as log the path taken with the camera (Figure 3).